Seduced by Darkness (The Seduced Saga)(35)

THIRTY FOUR





Her Own Goodness





DRAKE





So will I turn her virtue into pitch,

And out of her own goodness make the net

That shall enmesh them all.

— William Shakespeare, Othello




FROM PRISONER TO honored guest. We traded the hard stone prison for silk sheets and a luxurious suite overlooking a view of the mountains. The Twilight Palace was designed for Nephilim, with large spacious rooms boasting high ceilings and palatial views.

We were treated to the best as we waited for Father Patrick to bring Ana to us for her birthright ritual.

Sam and I discussed it all night after the Queen's offer, and in the end, with guidance from Beleth, decided that Ana deserved to grow up with all her powers, whatever they may be. Especially now that Sam and I could fly. Now, Ana would get her wings too.

Sam paced our room in impatience. It had only been a few days, but she could only handle so many hours of eating, flying and idling before she needed to hold her daughter. I felt the same way. Instead, I pulled her into my arms. "She'll be here soon."

Sam snuggled into me and I inhaled the scent of her raspberry shampoo. My love for this woman overwhelmed me at times. We'd been through so much. Survived so much. I couldn't imagine my life without her. I kissed the top of her head, then tilted her face up to reach her lips with mine. "I love you," I told her.

"I love you too," she said, smiling.

I looked over at the King bed, but Sam pulled me toward the large fireplace with furs layered in front of it. "We don't need a bed," she said.

I kissed her again and slipped the silk nightgown she wore off her shoulders. Her pale skin glowed with the dance of flames. I kissed the freckle on her left shoulder and worked my way down to her breasts, sucking in one nipple as my hand fell between her legs.

Her response was immediate. Her body curved into mine, her thighs squeezing my hand as I teased her center.

She pulled down my cotton pants and then spread herself on the furs, pulling me down on top of her.

We didn't need a bed.

She was right.

We just needed each other.

Everything righted itself as I thrust inside her. Our bodies shifted in rhythm as we held on to each other.

Our breath mingled.

Bodies joined.

We came in unison and held each other in satisfied silence in front of the dying embers.

The next morning, we woke to a cold room and a knock on the door. We quickly dressed and when we opened it, Ana ran in on stubby legs with Father Patrick behind her, grinning.

"Mommy! Daddy! Missed you!"

Sam swept her up in her arms, kissing her head while I wrapped my arms around them both.

I glanced back at Father Patrick. "Thank you. How was she?"

"She had her moments. She was connected to much of what happened here, which was confusing for one so young. But she knew you were okay."

I kissed her head, taking in her baby smell. What would become of a child gifted with so much at such a young age?



We dressed formally in clothes sent to us by the Queen. Sam was resplendent in a deep blue floor length gown beaded with sapphires and diamonds. The colors of Nightfall. I wore robes of gold and white, and Ana wore her own gown of gold.

We stood before the Queen, with Beleth at our side, as she said the ancient words to induct us into the Court and bring Ana into her powers.

The Queen flew down from her throne after the words were spoken and used a ceremonial knife to cut her wrist. She took a dab of the blood and dotted Ana's forehead with it, then held the knife to Ana. "You must taste of it, child."

Without hesitation, Ana flicked her little tongue over the knife.

She began to glow a golden hue and she squealed as small light-filled wings of gold sprouted from her back.

With a flick of her wings, she hovered in the air above Sam's hands. "I can fly, Daddy!"

We all looked on in awe.

"You sure can, honey."



We stepped to the side, watching Ana practice with her new wings, as Ryder stepped forward. He was chained. Today would determine his fate.

"Ryder, you broke your oath as Emzara. How do you plead?" the Queen asked.

Derek stepped forward. "Your Majesty, before you sentence Ryder, I'd like to plead for mercy on his behalf."

She turned her head to Derek. "I must admit, I was not expecting this. Did you not once not so long ago try to destroy this man for nearly killing your friend?"

Derek nodded curtly. "That's true. But people change. He's changed. And so have I. He's no threat to Nephilim. He was tortured, betrayed, used by the church and by you. He deserves to find his own path in life now."

I hated Ryder for attacking me, for nearly killing me. But because of him I was able to reunite with my father and claim my true powers. And he did help save me from the Stone Prison and he helped to defeat Talon. All of this ran through my mind, but I knew what I had to do. I stepped forward to stand next to Derek, with Sam at my side. "I support this petition," I said. After all, everyone deserved a second chance. I'd made my share of shitty decisions once upon a time.

Sam nodded. "As do I."

The Queen studied the faces around her. "Does The Gray Watcher have a thought on this matter before I decide?"